Mother Hen; Psalm 91, Proverbs 25

May the mumbling commence!

There are many different images of God in the Scriptures.  One of my favorites (because it is unusual and telling) is of God being a mother hen wishing to protect her chicks.  Jesus refers to this image as he looked over Jerusalem (Mt. 23:37; Luke 13:34).  I think of these passages as I read this passage from Psalm ninety-one:

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence. 

He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (Verses 3-4)

Even when things seem to be going the absolute worst in our lives, we are covered by the feathers of God.  The wings of God spread out in defense of us.  Under God’s wings, we find refuge.  What a comforting truth! 

That is why I connect this passage with the words of Jesus linking God as a protective mother hen.  I know the psalm refers to God as “He” and “His”, but the tenderness and loving-kindness shown in this imagery likens better to a mother hen than a rooster.

Come to the Mother Hen for protection!  Have you ever gathered eggs from the hens?  They can be fierce and scary.  They will protect their eggs, their children, with their life.  How many times have you seen on the nature shows a bird feigning being hurt to draw a predator away from the nest, which is filled with vulnerable young?  How many of you have seen this in your own backyard?

What devotion and sacrifice!  I find great comfort in this image as God as the protective Hen.

So, as we benefit from the protection of the Mother Hen, let us not get caught up in our own glory.  Let’s, instead, give glory to the Mother Hen – who protects us with a fierce devotion and love and care.  Read from Proverbs chapter twenty-five:

It is not good to eat much honey;

So to seek one's own glory is not glory. (Verse 27)

Yes, if we want extra sweets on our plates, let us read the Word of God.  And the Word of God will lead us to glorifying God – not ourselves or others.  May it be so!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out